The psychological adjustment of expatriates in Malta during Covid-19

Abstract

This study explored the psychological adjustment of expatriates living in Malta during the postCOVID-19 period. It examined the impact of demographic and psychosocial factors, including loneliness, local social connections, health, and future plans to remain in Malta, on the psychological wellbeing of expatriates. The research is grounded in the PERMA model of wellbeing, complemented by Berry’s (1992) acculturation theory and Folkman’s (1984) Transactional Model of Stress and Coping, offering a broader understanding of expatriate adaptation in a post-pandemic world. A total of 57 expatriates (29 males, 27 males, 1 non-binary/other), aged between 18 and 65+ participated in a cross-sectional survey-based study. Participants were recruited via online expatriate community groups on Facebook. The PERMA Profiler was used as the primary instrument, along demographic questions. Due to non-normal distribution of the data, non-parametric analyses, such as the MannWhitney U test, Kruskal-Wallis test, and Spearman’s rho, were conducted using SPSS. Findings revealed that gender, age, employment status, and marital status significantly influenced wellbeing. In particular, older expatriates, males, married individuals, and those who were employed tended to report higher wellbeing. Social integration and perceived loneliness were especially influential, emphasising the central role of belonging and interpersonal support. Interestingly, participants who planned to leave Malta reported higher wellbeing scores, which may reflect emotional detachment as a coping mechanism or relief from the pressures of long-term integration. The study highlights the importance of culturally embedded support systems and structured opportunities for social engagement in promoting expatriate mental health.